g gill net which had been especially made in New York. We could
hang the net over the entrance to a cave and, when all was ready, send a
native into the galleries to stir up the animals. As they flew out they
became entangled in the net and could be caught or killed before they were
able to get away. It was sometimes possible to catch every specimen in a
cavern, and moreover, to secure them in perfect condition without broken
skulls or wings.

If a bat escaped from the net it would never again strike it, for the
animals are wonderfully accurate in flight and most expert dodgers. Even
while in a cave, where hundreds of bats were in the air, they seldom flew
against us, although we might often be brushed by their wings; and it was a
most difficult thing to hit them with a bamboo switch. Their ability in
dodging is without doubt a necessary development of their feeding habits
for, with the exception of a few species, bats live exclusively upon
insects and catch them in the air.

It is a rather terrifying experience for a girl to sit in a bat cave
especially if the light has gone out and she is in utter darkness. Of
course she has a cap tightly pulled over her ears, for what girl, even if
she be a naturalist's wife, would venture into a den of evil bats with one
wisp of hair exposed!

All about is the swish of ghostly wings which brush her face or neck and
the air is full of chattering noises like the grinding of hundreds of tiny
teeth. Sometimes a soft little body plumps into her lap and if she dares to
take her hands from her face long enough to disengage the clinging animal
she is liable to receive a vicious bite from teeth as sharp as needles.
But, withal, it is good fun, and think how quickly formalin jars or
collecting trays can be filled with beautiful specimens!

CHAPTER V

THE YEN-PING REBELLION

On Sunday, June 18, we went to the bat cave to obtain a new supply of
specimens. Upon our return, just as we were about to sit down to luncheon,
four excited Chinese appeared with the following letter from Mr. Caldwell:

DEAR ROY:

There was quite a lively time in the city at an early hour this
morning. The rebels have taken Yen-ping and it looks as though there
was trouble ahead. Northern soldiers have been sent for and the chances
are that either tonight or tomorrow morning there will be quite a
battle. Bankhardt, Dr. Trimble and myself have just made a round of the
city, visi